Battery precursor manufacture in Australia

Report title – Li-ion battery cathode manufacture in Australia: a scene setting project

Project completed by Future Battery Industries CRC which receives allocation of MRIWA funds.

The Challenge

Australia exports the main commodities used in lithium battery production in the form of mineral concentrates. For Australia to transition into a major processing, manufacturing and trading hub and increase its share of market value from the battery industry, the crucial step it must take to add value to Australian battery minerals is to move into battery precursor production

Key Findings

• An international standard technique for WA manufacture – the ‘co-precipitation’ technique is identified as the most suitable candidate for cathode active materials (CAM) manufacture.
• A gradual ramp up of the pilot plant is proposed – a gradual increase in processing capability will allow for development of the technical expertise required to produce high-quality CAM materials.
• A lab scale/mini plant phase before pilot scale production – to provide validation and reasonable starting values to commence pilot-scale operation.

Benefit to WA

WA is placed to develop the battery manufacturing technology central to downstream lithium processing, the critical gap in the Australian supply chain. This will bring significant social, environmental and economic benefits to WA and the nation, placing Australia as an exporter of value-added products, rather than just raw materials.